Question NW2804 to the Minister of Mineral Resources
02 October 2015 - NW2804
Esterhuizen, Mr JA to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1)Whether his department can adequately manage and competently regulate issues pertaining to environmental matters at mines; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether his mandate to regulate on environmental issues at mines overlaps with the mandate of the Minister of Environmental Affairs; if so, what are the full relevant details?
Reply:
- Yes. The Department has the competence and suitably qualified personnel to regulate issues pertaining to environmental matters at mines.
- No. In terms of the provisions of the National Environmental Management Act, the Minister of Mineral Resources is the Competent Authority, while the Minister of Environmental Affairs is the Appeal Authority in respect if environmental matters.